It’s the beginning of the school year and we are getting back into the routine of fast-paced Boston life. An important part of that lifestyle is looking for a job. While finding internships and career-related jobs are important, we could all use some extra cash in our pockets, whether that means working in retail or restaurants. Here are some tips to keep in mind when searching for and choosing the best job for you.
Have a flexible schedule outside of class time. A big issue with hiring college students is their availability. Most of us are only available part-time and on nights and weekends, which can be difficult to schedule around. Emerson kids are notorious for having a heaping load on our plates, but if you are serious about a job, you need to have time for it. You might get lucky and find the perfect job for your availability, but don’t expect that to happen, as it is rare.
That being said; don’t let a job interfere with your prior commitments. If you commit to a publication or organization, don’t let yourself lose focus of that. This means that you need to prioritize what is more important to you, and that sometimes means having to sacrifice one thing for another.
Use your experience to your advantage. If all you have done is work in a restaurant, then that’s where you should start looking. Managers will most likely hire someone with years of experience over someone just starting out. Craigslist and other job search engines may have some bad connotations to them, but they can also be a successful tool in finding a job.
Try something out of your comfort zone. Maybe it’ll be a fit. On the contrary, if you are totally sick of working in a restaurant, try looking for something new! It might be harder to find, but you never know what types of employees managers are looking for. You might find that you like working in a different field than what you are used to. Try putting yourself out there, because surprises are around every corner.
Don’t stop calling. Always show interest. We have all heard the “we’ll call you” speech from managers and haven’t heard one word back. And while that is discouraging, do not lose hope. If they don’t want to call you, show initiative and call them! If you show persistence by continuing to call, they will notice that you are on top of things, which is a key attribute employers look for.
Even if a job sounds promising, don’t give up your search. Managers often sound very excited and enthusiastic about job opportunities. However, while you are allowed to get excited, don’t lose sight of your other prospects. Keep searching and following up with other applications, because a job isn’t final until you are signing the paperwork. Things happen; maybe the manager isn’t able to hire anyone else due to lack of hours, or maybe they have already filled the position. Whatever the reason, you don’t want to lose another job over one that isn’t going to hire you.
Don’t forget about on-campus opportunities. Your focus may be on finding something off campus, but always keep in mind that there are plenty of on-campus positions available. They might not be as exciting as working in some high profile restaurant or classy boutique, but you get a paycheck out of it. Sometimes that is the most important thing!